Olympic Games oblige, the Avignon festival will raise the curtain on June 29. Advanced calendar of the biggest live act in the world with extremely high quality programming.
On the sidelines of the festival in – almost forty events, there are no less than 1,600 shows to see in the off. A record given the shortened schedule for this 2024 edition, whose lights will go out on July 21. The opportunity for many regional artists to make themselves known.
Playground…and challenges
For the same artists, off is an opportunity to open up the possibilities for both the public and professionals. The playground becomes a land of challenges. “These are two very different audiences. Professionals have their criteria, they have a program to build… So even if they liked your proposal, it doesn’t necessarily fit into their program. There are a lot of issues that we can’t control .”explains actress Éloise Mercier, who will star this season.
Still, it’s exciting for everyone to play every night. “It’s a fantastic springboard”concludes the artist Patrik Cottet-Moine, also there.
This year we already know that three Varois will be there for the off. And you?
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Avignon Festival from Saturday 29 June to Sunday 21 July. festival-avignon.com – www.festivaloffavignon.com
Laura Calu: “It’s hard to spend a month of July without going there”
She is enjoying a week’s vacation in Quebec, where she was on tour – “It even surprised me to see so many people come to see me… I’m always surprised”, she enjoys – before returning to France… And Avignon. For the third time. “I did that in 2019 with my first show and last year with this show at Le Paris theater we were sold out from the first to the last day…” This show, “Senk” has a special taste for the artist because “written in the midst of depression.” A dispute with producers throws her into a very difficult period.
“It’s a much more sincere show”
“I didn’t have much hope anymore, not in myself or anything.” And yet she writes, alone. “As a result, it’s a much more sincere show.” And driven by improvisation, which she particularly likes.
The version that lasts more than 2h10 is slightly shortened for Avignon, where it only stops for ten days, still in Paris. “And we’ll be back next year again…”, she says now. Avignon, the color and taste of the theater for the artist who is now well established on the comedy scene in France and beyond. “People might forget my husband, Arthur [Chevalier avec qui elle travaille, ndlr]and I come from the theater. I’m basically an actress, my husband is also an actor… He’s done it several times, with small companies like mine, so it’s hard to spend a month in July without going.” And for the southerners, it is also almost home. “And it goes pretty well every time… But even in the small business days it was a real treat, it’s part of the game.” And she wants more of this game, and so do we.
“Sink” by Laura Calu. From 3 to 12 July in Théâtre le Paris, room 2, at 21.20.
Photo Vincent Berenger.
Éloise Mercier: “Like a marathon”
Avignon 2024 was not part of the performance calendar of the company Microscopic, created by Éloise Mercier. “it was decided at the end of the performances here, in Châteauvallon”, explains the actress and author of “Meutes”, which she presents at La Manufacture. “Avignon has a lot at stake, big investments at all levels, and ultimately the feedback we got here, around the show, made us wonder…” This will be the third off for Éloise Mercier. “It’s a physical and mental test, a bit like a marathon. We’ve always found it quite wonderful because the previous show found its audience immediately. When it goes like that, it takes you with it. There’s also a kind of imitation, throughout the city.”
With his stage partner Gautier Boxebeld
“Les Meutes”, written and directed by Eloise and to be discovered from July 4 to 21 in Avignon, has evolved since its first performances. “It is good for the offense to tighten up a bit, we have changed certain elements.” But by his side we always find his stage partner Gautier Boxebeld. “Les Meutes”, where the story of Lou confronts the wolf(s), who are not necessarily who we think. The other, the loved one who will impose himself, the family, the families… The others. And you who get lost in this forest and who you want to find again.
“Les Meutes” from the company Microscopic. From 4 to 21 July at 12.20 pm at La Manufacture. Released on July 10 and 17.
Photo DR.
Patrik Cottet-Moine: “Avignon is always something special”
“Avignon is always something special for the companies, the artists waiting for programmers from France and even outside, and it is also a meeting with the public.”, confides Var comedian Patrik Cottet-Moine. With his previous show, “Mime de rien”, the artist, who performed several times with Zablocks off, won a tour in China. This year he returns with “Chez lui”, a visual comedy show where the artist plays as much with his voice as with his body.
A show without words, very humorous
The show, carried by Brignolais of Oregon Production, was co-written with Quebecer Michel Courtemanche and directed by Belgian Marc Andréini (of the Belgian “Zindésirables”). Under the artistic direction of Patricia Jean, the artist presents a show “without words, very humorous, burlesque, bordering on cartoon…” where he turns to the clownish side of life – from the disillusioned father to the Romeo who wants to conquer his lover – as he throws himself into the imitation of the bird that flees, the dog that attacks or the cake that burns… With Patrik Cottet-Moine, the imagination is widely engaged and so is the laughter. Do not miss.
“At his place” by Patrik Cottet-Moine. From June 29 to July 21, Roseau Teinturiers. Free Tuesday evening.
